The Chinese government has banned central government employees from using Apple iPhones for work, it writes The Wall Street Journal based on insiders. According to the business newspaper, the ban also applies to other smartphones from non-Chinese brands.
In recent weeks, officials are said to have been informed about the ban by their superiors via chat groups or in meetings. It is not immediately clear how far the restrictions extend exactly. According to The Wall Street Journal employees of “some” central supervisory authorities have also been told that foreign-made smartphones are prohibited.
Apple and the main information body of the People’s Republic did not immediately respond to questions from the American newspaper.
The Beijing government has already imposed restrictions on certain officials on the use of the iPhone. Now there is a broader ban on the use of the telephone.
Tensions
China is taking the measure amid rising tensions with the United States and other Western countries. The US government is increasingly trying to cut off the Asian country from the most advanced chip technology.
Meanwhile, China has been trying for years to become less dependent on Western technology. At the same time, the ban on iPhones for civil servants can be seen as retaliation for similar restrictions in the United States on the use of smartphones from China’s Huawei and the video app TikTok, which has a Chinese parent company.
Apple is the market leader in the more expensive segment for smartphones in China. According to analysts, the ban will not have a major impact on sales in the country. China is Apple’s most important international market. iPhones are popular in both the private and government sectors.